Beautiful Plants for Terrible Clay Soil

 I have the worst clay soil I've ever seen. It is just the worst. For most of the summer you can't dig into it without a pick axe. Seriously, it's like walking on concrete. It's a wonder that ANYTHING grows in this dirt. But there are things that will grow! If you have clay soil too, here are some great perennials that will endure rock hard soil and dry conditions. 

Solidaster gets a bad rap but it's a great native wildflower that attracts lots of beneficial insects. and No, it's not bothering your allergies. 

I just planted these black eyed susans this year and they're already covered in flowers. 

Not sure how it happens but I have large, gorgeous reblooming bearded Iris that bloom every spring and fall. So pretty!

Baptisia, also known at False Indigo, puts on a beautiful show every spring. 

Comfrey will thrive even in hard clay.

Butterfly weed blooms for weeks and also
 attracts pollinators. 

So there are six suggestions to get you started. I can testify that they are all very hardy and lovely.  I should mention they are all in full sun. What plants have you had success with in clay soil? Feel free to post in the comments below. 

Earth

Arguably the most important element of gardening is earth - or soil (or dirt if you'd rather). I grew up in an area that had amazing top soil so I never had to think about it too much while gardening. However, once I moved to Pennsylvania, it was a different story. In both our last house and the current one, we have lots, and lots, and LOTS of clay. It is so far from ideal we've been fighting to improve it. But the quality of soil can make or break your garden. Below are two pictures of pink petunias. They came from the same pack of seedlings. One was planted in the clay soil and one was planted in the good soil of the window box. The differences are remarkable.

Good potting soil

Clay Soil

There is so much that can, and has, been written on the subject. I'll include some helpful links at the bottom of this post. My goal here is to get you thinking about it and give you a few essential pointers.

So, how can you get the best from your soil? Read on.

First, keep toxic chemicals out of your soil. This may sound like a no brainer but be careful to keep harsh pesticides, like roundup, oils, and even vinegar out of your soil. They can kill the good plants you want to keep and they kill worms and micro organisms that are beneficial.

Second, know your basic soil types and which one(s) you have. Clay is hard and has an orange color to it. I think we all know what sand looks like. Good top soil is a very dark brown and isn't too hard to work with.

Third, if you have really bad soil, consider raised beds. Then you can fill them with better quality soil from the garden center. We like to fill ours with a variety of things like shredded leaves, manure, compost and top soil. Mushroom compost is also awesome. We also add a general purpose, organic fertilizer occasionally.

Fourth, most experts suggest getting your soil tested to see what nutrients you really need to add. However, I've never done this as it seems like such a hassle.

Finally, as much as you can, keep your soil mulched. It will protect the soil from errosion, keep it wetter longer and encourage worms and such underneath. (Worms hate bare soil because it gets too hot).

I'll be honest, as important as soil is, I'm still probably not spending enough on making it as good as it could be. It's always a balance between cost savings and pay off in the garden for me. How is the dirt where you live? Feel free to write about it in the comments below.

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